Most of us instinctively close those annoying pop-ups that ask if we'd like to be pestered by a "live sales representative" while shopping online. However, that may actually be a great time to ask for a discount.

Reducing your bills by asking for discounts is a recurring theme around these parts, and as finance blog Three Thrift Guys points out, most live chat salespeople have the same basic function that regular sales people do: to sell you things. This can be annoying in most cases, but it also means that you can solicit them for deals or discounts:

Sometimes the simplest method of saving money is the most overlooked. Negotiating with companies…
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Next time you are shopping online, look to see if a store has a "Live Chat" function. If there is one to be found, you'll usually find a link to activate it in the customer support section of the site. Stores advertise these chat specialists as experts there to help you make a decision, but they are really just salespeople in disguise. Use it to your advantage and make them sell you what you came to buy – for less.

Of course, you won't always find success, and sometimes the person you're chatting with may be working off of a script (or they could be a robot). However, the goal is still to make a sale. Any time a company puts a person in front of you with the motivation to make a sale, that's an opportunity to haggle, and it's worth a shot to try. Check out Three Thrifty Guys' post for more ways to save money while shopping online.